On February 11, 2017, Kevin Durant played his first game back in the Chesapeake Energy Arena since moving to the Golden State Warriors from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Emotions were high before, during, and after the game. Sports fans have been preparing for this game for months and it seems like the arena was spilling over with people. As a general sports fan, watching this game made me wonder something. Why is everyone so upset with KD?
But, you know what he still doesn’t have? A championship ring. Kevin Durant just wants a ring. Why is everyone mad at him for that?
Let’s just go back to a few years ago when Lebron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat. Obviously, he was stuck in a rut in Cleveland… Just like Durant was stuck in a rut in Oklahoma City. He knew that if he stayed there, his name would be added unto that list of non-ring legends like Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley, Steve Nash, Vince Carter, etc.….So… Lebron left. Just like KD left. Lebron received so much criticism and people burned his jersey for months. But, everyone understood that the NBA is a business and you have to do what’s best for you as a player.
Now, fast forward to summer 2016 when Kevin Durant became a free agent. The Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, and even the Thunder all sat down to make negotiations with the superstar. Ultimately, he made the decision to go to the best overall superstar stacked team which was Golden State.
Sports analyst Stephen A. Smith said, "It is the weakest move I've ever seen an NBA superstar commit. You are riding the gravy train. You're jumping on the bandwagon. They don't need you. They've won without you. Chances are, they'd win again, without you. You are jumping on their coattails to do what some would say you should have done already. Considering the great talent that you are. That's my issue with Kevin Durant.”
Why is trying to win a ring considered weak? To me, a weak move by an NBA superstar would be Carmelo Anthony staying with the Knicks for six years when he knows good and well that they will never win… Ever. Their record is 22-33 this season. His teammates are either always hurt or always in trouble. His team owner hates him, yet he’s so concerned about making money that he won’t take a pay cut to go to a team that is actually a title contender. THAT is a weak move. Not moving to the best team in the league when you’re one of the best players in the league. Kevin Durant never bad mouthed the Thunder organization and he never said anything negative about his partner in crime, Russell Westbrook.Yet, both times their two teams have faced each other this season, Westbrook played with a nasty attitude and unnecessary roughness. Why is he so upset with him? He had every opportunity to leave OKC just like Durant did.
People need to understand that athletes are just doing their jobs, and as fans we need to understand this. We just need to support them and stop judging!
Picture Credits: NewsOK